LOOK WHO'S EIGHT!

Happy Birthday Andrew!

I can't believe you are eight years old already. It seems like you were born yesterday. I started going through my pictures, and couldn't believe the journey you've traveled in eight years.

I remember holding you the day you were born, knowing how special and loved you were, and what a joy you were to your mom and dad.

You moved to a new neighborhood before you turned one, and started enjoying the park and Holiday events.

When you were two, your sister Christine was born. I remember you and I planted a flower garden for Mommy.

We went to Target to get flowers to plant, gardening tools and you just had to have this special butterfly to put in your garden.

You loved your new sister, and the two of you were like two peas in a pod.

The summer of 2003, you started spending a lot of Fridays with me and having sleepovers. Your cousin Taylor came from Florida, and you two had lots of fun together.

Then in August, before you were even three, you were diagnosed with Leukemia. Who would have known at the time, what a brave boy you were.

Except for other cancer kids at the hospital, your sister became your only playmate.

You discovered she had teeth!

You quickly became an advocate and fundraiser, walking (mostly in a stroller) in the Night the Light about a month after being diagnosed.

When you were sick, Christine was a comfort to you...

Your Dad train really hard with Team in Training, raising lots of money for blood cancers....he rode his bike 100 miles around Lake Tahoe.

You were there to congratulate him at the finish line! Your Daddy did three century rides....raising money for a cure.

You had to wait a year to do the CHOC Walk at Disneyland, but you participated three years in a row....and with Mommy's help, raised over $40,000 as the top team! Your Mommy trained and completed the Los Angeles Triathlon that same year! (no picture :( )

You turned five..... and joined a T-Ball league.

You had more birthdays....

And Grandparents days...

And girlfriends.....

Then another baby sister...

God heard the prayers of many. You went off treatment in November 2006, and we were blessed.

Soon after, you had surgery to remove your tubes from your chest, and had your first real shower!

You joined a swim team...The Ladera Liquids,where you became a competitive swimmer with medals to prove it!

You climbed high mountains.....

Last year, when you turned seven, I took this picture of you for the Austin Light the Night Walk.

Now you are eight.....in the second grade, with a really nice teacher.

Tying your own shoes...a feat you struggled with but accomplished.

Going to chapel at school. Becoming such a smart young man,
and making everyone so proud for this day.

Have a great day today. I love you!

SLEEPING IN THE PRINCESS ROOM

***Big Brother Update***
It was fantastic last night with April leaving! She can't wait to party with Libra...right! While I still like Renny, her actions and bold moves, like asking Dan, Keesha and Memphis if they would be pawns was a bit unsettling. Right now Dan is my favorite to win. That can change, but I don't think so. Does anyone else notice the close alliance that Michelle and Memphis have? I don't know if it's apparent on the show, or just from watching BBAD. The both are up to no good. The Head of Household comp was long! I won't give it away because several of you get totally ticked, so you'll find out Sunday night....not a word out of my lips...ummm blog.

Before driving up to Temple, the city between me and Wacko, home of the Dr. Pepper Museum.... for my sleep study, I joined a couple of my fellow inmates here at the compound neighbors for a late afternoon swim. (yes I'm the queen of run-on sentences) We weren't in the water ten minutes when the sky took an ugly turn...



You've seen those "Life comes at you fast" commercials? Well, that's exactly how storms come at you in Texas!

That was my cue to get on the road and head on out to my sleepover. I arrived right at 7 PM, and was met by Gary, my technician.

He escorted me to my room...the Princess Room. The other side of the room had a dresser, TV and my very own thermostat for climate control, and a nice big private bathroom. The ceiling had a smoked glass dome that encased a 360 degree camera. Gary told me that he could not see me in the bathroom....like I trust him.

Yeah, like I was born yesterday......I guess he didn't see my Big Brother tote bag!!

After a snack of fresh fruit, and filling out paperwork, waiving my right to sue the Hospital or Gary if I got hit by lightning or electrocuted, I was wired.

Is this not the scariest creature you've ever seen on a blog? I had Gary take this picture in the event my next of kin needed documentation. I had a zillion electrodes screwed into my scalp, my face had about thirty thousand wires taped to it, and things were shoved up my nostrils. My inner thighs were wired...and I had a laser light on my right pinkie.

I had no problem sleeping. The mattress was part memory foam and I could have stayed forever. In the morning Gary brought me a croissant and a cup of coffee. I love Gary, so I'm going back in two months.